Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a glass ribbon

A method for manufacturing a glass ribbon comprising:

• moving the glass ribbon along a travel path in a travel direction;
• directing a first ribbon portion of the glass ribbon to a winding apparatus to wind the first ribbon portion into a roll;
• detaching the first ribbon portion from a second ribbon portion of the glass ribbon;
• separating the second ribbon portion into a plurality of separated ribbon portions;
• directing a first set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions toward a disposal apparatus to crush the first set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions;
• and
• forming a stack with a second set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions,
• wherein the directing the first ribbon comprises engaging a first major surface of the first ribbon with a support roller and engaging a second major surface of the first ribbon opposite the first major surface with a catenary apparatus
• wherein the catenary apparatus engages the second major surface through a plurality of support rings extending circumferentially around an outer surface of a plurality of rollers of the catenary apparatus, a first support ring and a second support ring of the plurality of support rings extend circumferentially around a roller of the plurality of rollers where the first support ring is spaced apart from the second support ring along the roller.

A method for manufacturing a glass ribbon comprising:

• moving the glass ribbon along a travel path in a travel direction;
• directing a first ribbon portion of the glass ribbon along a first path portion of the travel path to a winding apparatus to wind the first ribbon portion into a roll;
• detaching the first ribbon portion from a second ribbon portion of the glass ribbon;
• moving a conveyor from a first position outside the first path portion to a second position intersecting the first path portion, to receive the second ribbon portion;
• separating the second ribbon portion into a plurality of separated ribbon portions;
• delivering the plurality of separated ribbon portions to the conveyor, and
• directing a first set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions from the conveyor toward a disposal apparatus,
• wherein the first ribbon portion is directed to the winding apparatus when the conveyor is in the first position,
• wherein a segment of the first ribbon portion upstream from the winding apparatus is unsupported and spaced a distance from the disposal apparatus when the conveyor is in the first position, and
• wherein a glass manufacturing apparatus comprises:
• a forming apparatus configured to form the glass ribbon;
• a catenary apparatus positioned downstream from the forming apparatus and comprising a curved surface, the curved surface comprising the travel path along which the glass ribbon is conveyed in the travel direction;
• the winding apparatus positioned downstream from the catenary apparatus and configured to wind the first ribbon portion of the glass ribbon into the roll;
• and
• the conveyor positioned downstream from the catenary apparatus and configured to receive the plurality of separated ribbon portions of the second ribbon portion of the glass ribbon from the catenary apparatus and move the plurality of separated ribbon portions along a portion of the travel path.